President Bush offered to work with the dems in 2005. They refused to acknowledge there was even a problem. As in the battle for Iraq, the rats cannot allow a “win” to be attributed to any Republican. Pelosi, Reid, old media, et al, have rendered the political atmosphere too toxic for progress.
That said, I suspect and fear you will be right, more taxes, fewer benefits and no personal accounts. Euro-sclerosis here we come.